Third Reading Material for Christology

Biblical Exegesis: An Introductory Overview
Felix Just, S.J., Ph.D.

Introduction / Definitions:

Exegesis - careful investigation of the original meaning of texts in their historical and literary contexts; the English word comes from a Greek verb meaning "to lead out of" (Greek "ex" = "out"; "agein" = "to lead/go/draw"); the process basically involves asking analytical questions about various aspects of the texts and their contexts the opposite process is called Eisegesis, which means "reading [your own opinions] into" the text (not a good idea in biblical studies!)

Biblical Criticism / Critical Methods - various ways of doing biblical exegesis, each having a specific goal and a specific set of questions; some methods are more historical, others more literary, others more sociological, theological, etc.

Biblical "criticism" does not mean "criticizing" the text (i.e. what you don't like or don't agree with); rather, it means asking "critical" questions, based on "criteria" that are as clear, careful, and objective as possible.

Hermeneutics - the theory and methodology of interpretation, especially of scriptural texts; a branch of theology that deals with the principles underlying biblical exegesis.

Various Methods of Biblical Exegesis / Interpretation:

The following table lists many different approaches or methods of biblical interpretation, as grouped in the document "The Interpretation of the Bible in the Church," by the Pontifical Biblical Commission (1993).

A) The Historical-Critical Method

1. Composition History Questions

Questions Typically Asked:
Who is the author of the work? What do we know about him/her?
Is the attributed author the actual author, or is the work pseudepigraphic?
When, where, and under what circumstances was the work written?
Who were the original recipients? Where did they live?
2. Traditional Literary Criticism

Questions Typically Asked:

What words are used, and what range of meanings do they have?
What images and symbols are used, and what do they signify?-What characters appear in the story? What do we know aboutthem?
How are the characters related to one another in the story?

3. Comparison of Translations

Questions Typically Asked:

Are there any significant differences between various modern translations?-When were these translations done, using which translation philosophies?
Which ancient Hebrew or Greek texts underlie the various translations?-Has anything been lost or obscured in the process of translation?

4. Textual Criticism

Questions Typically Asked:

Are there any variant readings in the ancient manuscripts?
Are the variants negligible (mere spelling) or significant (affecting meaning)?
Can the variants be explained as intentional changes, or an accidental ones?
How do the literary or historical contexts help explain the variant readings?
5. Source Criticism

Questions Typically Asked:

Does the text have any underlying source or sources?
Which version of a source was used, in case there is more than one?
What do the sources actually say and mean in their original contexts?
How are the sources used (quoted, paraphrased, adapted?) in the later text?
6. Form Criticism

Questions Typically Asked:

What is the literary form or “genre” of the whole work and the particular text?
Does the text follow or diverge from the usual expectations for this genre?
What is the normal purpose/goal of this genre?-In what social context would texts of this genre have been used?
7. Redaction Criticism

Questions Typically Asked:

How has the author used the source(s) in shaping this text?
Are there any parallel texts, and how is this text similar and/or different?
What particular views or theological emphases do this author show?
How did the author’s life circumstances affect the shaping of the text?
8. Socio-Historical Criticism

Questions Typically Asked:

If the story claims to be historical, what really happened?
What social, historical, or cultural information can be gleaned from the text?
What background information is necessary to better understand the text?
What was life like for the common people, not just the ruling elites?
B) New Methods of Literary Analysis

1. Rhetorical Analysis

Questions Typically Asked:

What message is the author trying to convey?
Is the author attempting to instruct, inspire, defend, or persuade the reader?
What rhetorical techniques does he use to achieve his goals?
2. Narrative Analysis

Questions Typically Asked:

Who are the characters in the story? What roles do they play?
What is the plot sequence? What narrative time is covered?-What is the author’s and/or narrator’s point of view?
3. Semiotic Analysis

Questions Typically Asked:

What deeper patterns of meaning are conveyed by the words and symbols?

C) Approaches Based on Tradition

1. Canonical Approach

Questions Typically Asked:

Where does this text belong in the literary context of the entire Bible?
How is this text related to prior texts and/or later texts in the Bible?
How does its location in the Canon affect the meaning of thistext?
2. Using Jewish Interpretative

Questions Typically Asked:

How do traditional Jewish methods of interpretation read this Traditions text?
Are there any parallel or similar stories in Rabbinic literature?-Do Jewish and Christian interpretations of this text differ significantly?
3. History of Interpretation

Questions Typically Asked:

How do traditional Jewish methods of interpretation read this text?
Are there any parallel or similar stories in Rabbinic literature?
Do Jewish and Christian interpretations of this text differ significantly?

D) Approachess Using the Human Sciences

1. Sociological Approach

Questions Typically Asked:

What insights from Sociology can help in the interpretation of the text?
What patterns of human social behavior are evident in the text?
2. Cultural Anthropology Approach

Questions Typically Asked:

What models from Cultural Anthropology can help us understand the text?
What cultural presuppositions/patterns affect the interpretation of the text?

3. Psychological/Psychoanalytical Approachess

Questions Typically Asked:

How can the text be interpreted using various theories from Psychology?
Can the text help us understand the human psyche better?

E) Contextual Approaches

1. Liberationist Approach

Questions Typically Asked:

Has this text been used for domination of oppressed people? How?
Can this text be used for the liberation of the poor/disadvantaged? How?
Can other texts counteract the detrimental effects of oppressive exts?

2. Feminist Approach

Questions Typically Asked:

Does the text evidence gender bias? Was later interpretation also biased?
How is the meaning of the text affected if read from a feminist perspective?
What other texts can be recovered and used to balance out biased texts?

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